Aussies struggling to bounce back after heart attack

A new Heart Foundation survey released for World Heart Day shows that resuming everyday life after a heart attack may be more challenging than we think.

Getting back to work presented challenges for almost half of those surveyed, with 25 per cent reporting they had not returned to work at all, and another 24 per cent unable to get back to the same level they were at before their heart attack.

The Heart Foundation stressed the importance of being active after a heart attack, but 39 per cent had not returned to pre-heart attack levels of exercise and 15 per cent had not been able to resume physical activity at all due to their condition.

Heart Foundation general manager Bill Stavreski said that seniors, especially those aged over 65, are more prone to having other chronic conditions like kidney disease or diabetes which play a significant role in recovery.

He added aged care providers said nurses can do a variety of things to help a patient’s recovery, such as providing lifestyle support in their exercise regime or medical adherence.

“Small changes can have big benefits over time. A lot of people struggle mentally as they see it as a big hurdle to overcome,” he said.